10 Best Things to Do in Seward, Alaska (+ What to Know Before You Go)
When I lived in Alaska, I visited Seward more times than I can count - across summer, fall, and quite literally everything in between. It's one of my favorite places in the entire state, and this guide is everything I'd tell you before your first trip there!
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Seward is the kind of place that's hard to describe without underselling it. It's a small coastal town - maybe 3,000 people year-round - sitting at the head of Resurrection Bay where the mountains drop straight into the sea. And yet somehow it contains: a national park, tidewater glaciers, world-class fishing, genuine wildlife encounters, one of the most scenic drives in the United States to get there, and the best rockfish tacos I've ever eaten.
I kept coming back to Seward over and over while I lived in Alaska, in different seasons and for different reasons. This guide reflects all of that - not just the obvious highlights, but the specific things that make it worth the trip and how to actually experience them well.
Quick answer if you're on the fence: Is Seward worth visiting? 100% yes. Give it at least 2-3 days, book the wildlife cruise and one big outdoor activity in advance, and don't leave without eating at Lone Chicharron (can you tell I’m obsessed with the seafood tacos? More on that later).
Table of Contents
Introduction
Where is Seward in Alaska?
How to Get to Seward
10 Best Things to Do in Seward, Alaska
Other Things to Do Near Seward
Where to Stay in Seward, Alaska
Where to Eat and Drink
When to Visit (Best Time of Year)
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
Where is Seward, Alaska?
Seward sits at the northern tip of Resurrection Bay - a deep fjord on the Gulf of Alaska - on the eastern Kenai Peninsula in southcentral Alaska. The town is essentially ringed by mountains on three sides and open water on the fourth, which gives it that 360-degree dramatic scenery that makes every single view feel like a postcard.
It's also the primary gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the most wildlife-rich and glacier-dense national parks in the country - which is a massive part of why it draws so much attention as a destination, despite the town’s relatively small size!
Read this next: 15 Best Places to Stay in Seward, Alaska (+ Unique Spots)
Map of Seward, Alaska
How to Get to Seward
By Car - The Seward Highway
Most visitors fly into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and drive south. The drive takes about 2.5 hours without stops - but you'll want to build in extra time, because the Seward Highway is hands-down one of the most beautiful drives in the United States.
The road hugs the Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage - a long, dramatic inlet where the tides create some of the most powerful bore tides in the world - before climbing through the Chugach Mountains and descending toward the coast. I've spotted beluga whales in the Turnagain Arm and Dall sheep on the cliffs above the road on this drive. Neither one is guaranteed, but both are common enough that it's worth keeping your eyes up.
Search for rental car rates at RentalCars.com.
By Train - the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic
If you'd rather sit back and let the scenery come to you, the Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic trainruns daily between Anchorage and Seward from mid-May through mid-September. The route passes through terrain you can't see from the road - river gorges, hanging glaciers, dense spruce forest - and pulls into Seward right at the harbor. It's a wonderful way to arrive and I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't need a car once they're in town!
10 Best Things to Do in Seward, Alaska
1. Explore Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park is the main reason most people make the trip to Seward, and it delivers completely. The park encompasses over 600,000 acres of glaciers, fjords, and coastal wildlife habitat - and Exit Glacier, just a few miles from downtown, is the most accessible entry point.
The Exit Glacier overlook trail is an easy, well-maintained path that gets you quite close to the glacier face and is perfect if you only have a couple of hours. Markers along the route show how dramatically the glacier has retreated over the decades - it's quietly sobering. Carry bear spray on this trail; bear sightings in the area are common.
For a full-day challenge, the Harding Icefield Trail is ~8.5 miles round-trip with serious elevation gain, ending at a sweeping view of one of the largest icefields in North America. It's strenuous but the payoff is one of the most extraordinary panoramas in Alaska. I haven't done the full trail yet - it's super high on my list for a future trip - but the shorter overlook versions are gorgeous in their own right.
>> Book a guided group hike to the Harding Icefield with Kenai Backcountry Adventures
>> Full guide: Glaciers to Visit Near Anchorage - including Exit Glacier
Entering Kenai Fjords National Park
Exit Glacier view from the easy overlook trail
2. Take a Wildlife & Glacier Cruise
This is the single activity I'd tell every first-time visitor to Seward to book before anything else - and book it early, because the best tours fill up weeks in advance in peak season.
The boat tours out of Seward's harbor take you into the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park, past tidewater glaciers and through waters that are teeming with marine life. Humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, sea otters floating on their backs, thousands of nesting puffins on the sea stacks - I've been out on the water off Seward and seen all of these. Watching a massive chunk of glacier calve into the ocean with a sound like a cannon shot is something that stays with you forever.
The full-day cruise is worth the extra hours - you get further into the park and see more glaciers. But the shorter Resurrection Bay tour is a solid option if you're short on time or simply don’t want to commit a full day.
>> Book the 7.5-hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise with Lunch (top rated)
>> Book the 4-hour Resurrection Bay Wildlife Cruise (most popular shorter option)
3. Paddleboard Next to Bear Glacier
For something truly unlike anything else in Alaska, book a paddleboarding excursion to Bear Glacier with Liquid Adventures. Bear Glacier is the largest glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, and its terminal moraine has created a lagoon filled with massive blue-green icebergs that you paddle among on a stand-up board.
This half-day adventure (~5.5 hours from start to finish) runs from late May through late September, weather permitting. It's one of those experiences that's hard to fully envision until you've done it, and then immediately becomes the thing you tell everyone about!
4. Go Big with a Helicopter Tour
For a full Alaska from-above experience, a helicopter glacier tour is one of those quintessential must-dos. The aerial perspective on the Kenai Peninsula - the icefields, the fjords, the mountains dropping into the sea - is something you simply can't get any other way. Many tours include a glacier landing, where you step out onto ancient ice surrounded by nothing but mountains and sky.
Some tours combine the glacier landing with summer dogsledding - meeting the sled dogs and mushing across a snow-covered glacier in July is the kind of only-in-Alaska moment that makes the whole trip feel worth it.
Glacier views from above during winter
Helicopter tour with a mountaintop landing
5. Book a Guided Fishing Charter
Seward is a world-class fishing destination - halibut, salmon, and rockfish are all in the waters of Resurrection Bay, and a guided charter is the best way to go after them whether you're experienced or picking up a rod for the first time. The guides know the water, they handle all the gear, and the scenery you fish in front of is jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Miller's Landing in Lowell Point offers various charter options at different lengths and price points - a good starting point for comparing what's available.
Boat launch area at Miller's Landing
Miller's Landing on Lowell Point
6. Hike the Tonsina Creek Trail
The Tonsina Creek Trail at Lowell Point State Recreation Site is a local favorite that most first-time visitors miss entirely - which is exactly why I'm putting it here. It's only ~3 miles round-trip, winds through lush coastal forest, and ends at a secluded beach on Resurrection Bay with views across the water to the mountains. It's a perfect half-morning option, especially if you're staying at Miller's Landing or Salted Roots Cabins nearby.
Lowell Point Beach near the start of the trail
7. Hike or Bike the Lost Lake Trail
The Lost Lake Trailis one of the classic Kenai Peninsula treks - ~14 miles round-trip through alpine meadow and forest, ending at a pristine mountain lake. It's a legitimate all-day hike, and in both summer and early fall the colors along the trail are insane. Mountain bikers love this one too - it's well-suited for the terrain, and shortens the time needed for the journey.
>> Rent mountain bikes and e-bikes in Seward
8. Book a Self-Drive Jet Ski Tour
*Hidden gem!
Jet Ski Seward Adventurestakes you on self-drive tours through Resurrection Bay with a guide leading the way - a wildly fun and immersive way to cover a lot of water and coastline in a few hours. They provide all the outerwear gear you'll need to stay dry. Choose from a 4-hour daytime tour or a 2.5-hour evening option.
>> Check availability & book your jet ski tour
9. Walk the Harbor and Downtown
Seward's boat harbor is worth an hour of your time even if you're not getting on a boat. It's where the commercial fishing fleet comes in and out, where the wildlife cruise boats load up in the mornings, and where the public fish cleaning stations attract a steady crowd of people processing impressive catches. It's super interesting to just walk and watch.
The historic downtown is a short walk from the harbor - small, walkable, with colorful murals, local art galleries, and good food within a few blocks. Don't rush through it!
10. Book a Mobile Sauna Experience
*Hidden gem!
After a long day of hiking, kayaking, or being out on the water, Seward Saunas offers something that's very special, and honestly? A little boujee! These luxury mobile saunas delivered and set up at a location of your choosing - your Airbnb, a scenic river spot, wherever makes sense. It's a restorative way to end a big day outdoors, and the combination of a hot sauna, cold Alaskan air outside and epic panoramic views from the sauna windows is something you'll want to do again immediately.
Other Things to Do Near Seward
Rent Kayaks on Trail Lake: Located just north of Seward in the community of Moose Pass, you can rent kayaks to paddle along the beautiful Upper Trail Lake. This glacially-fed lake offers calm paddling waters and stunning views of the surrounding Chugach Mountains.
Visit Cooper Landing: This small community is about an hour’s drive from Seward, and is a hub for fishing on the Kenai River. You can explore the stunningly turquoise Kenai Lake, visit Cooper Landing Brewing, or tackle the challenging Slaughter Ridge Trail for epic views.
Where to Stay in Seward
Salted Roots Cabins: Modern, beautifully designed cabins right at the water in Lowell Point, a few minutes from downtown. Perfect for a romantic trip or just wanting a stylish base. One of the nicest places to stay on the entire Kenai Peninsula.
Miller's Landing: The most versatile option in the area - oceanfront camping, glamping, and cozy cabins all in one spot at Lowell Point. Also where you'll find fishing charters and kayak rentals, so it's a very convenient base if you're planning multiple water activities.
Seward Adventure Lodge: A renovated Forestry Ranger Station right in downtown Seward - unique, comfortable, and within walking distance of the harbor and restaurants.
Orca Island Cabins: Luxury yurts on a private island accessible by water taxi from Seward. It's an off-grid Alaskan experience you really cannot replicate anywhere else.
Camping on the Resurrection River: One of my personal favorite spots in the Seward area is boondocking right next to the Resurrection River - free, scenic, and about as Alaskan as it gets.
>> Full guide: 15 Best Places to Stay in Seward, Alaska
Salted Roots Cabins
Camping spot on the Resurrection River
Where to Eat and Drink in Seward
For a town of ~3,000 people, Seward really over-delivers on food! Here are the places I'd actually send you to:
Lone Chicharron Taqueria: I think about their rockfish street tacos more than is probably reasonable. The fish is caught right there in Seward, and of course they have all sorts of variety aside from just fish tacos. However, these might just ruin all other tacos for you. Don't skip this one.
Summit Sips: My go-to coffee stop in Seward, especially for an iced latte before a morning hike. Consistently good, friendly, and the kind of local coffee shop a small town like this should have.
Resurrect Art Coffee House: A coffee shop inside a 100+ year old church, filled with local art. Worth visiting just for the space itself - and the coffee is great!
The Cookery: The best dinner option in town for fresh local seafood and oysters. Reservations are definitely recommended - it fills up fast in summer.
Seward Brewing Company: Great local beers with a food menu that's so much better than typical brewpub fare.
Cafe at Miller's Landing: Right on the waterfront at Lowell Point - great coffee and hearty meals all day, perfect if you're spending the day out at Miller's Landing anyway.
Other spots worth visiting: Woody's Thai Kitchen (authentic Thai, great vegan options), Firebrand BBQ (solid BBQ with outdoor seating), Flamingo Lounge (craft cocktails in an elevated retro space).
Summit Sips coffee shop (photo of their previous location)
Cafe at Miller's Landing
When to Visit Seward
June - August is peak season - the warmest weather, longest days (nearly 24 hours of daylight in June), and all tours running at full schedule. It's also the busiest, with prices and crowds to match.
September is my personal favorite time to visit Seward - There's an omnipresent chill in the air that sweater-weather people will love. The summer bustle has died down and the town feels quieter and more “itself.” And the colors - by early September, the trees start turning gold, creating the most extraordinary contrast against the stark blue water and snow-capped peaks.
This is also when you'll start to see "termination dust" - a uniquely Alaskan term for the first dusting of snow on the highest peaks in fall, signaling that winter is swiftly on its way. It sounds ominous but it's actually one of the most beautiful things about Alaska in September. Highly recommend experiencing it at least once.
May is a quieter shoulder month worth considering if you want lower prices and don't mind some tour schedules being limited.
>> Read next: Fall in Alaska: 13 Wonderful Things to Do and See
Moody early autumn weather near Seward
FAQ
Q: Is Seward, Alaska worth visiting?
A: 100% yes - and I say that as someone who lived in Alaska and had the whole state to choose from. Seward packs an extraordinary amount into a very small town: a national park, tidewater glaciers, world-class wildlife viewing, excellent hiking, and a food scene that will surprise you. Give it at least 2-3 days to do it properly.
Q: How many days do I need in Seward?
A: Two to three days covers the main highlights comfortably - a wildlife cruise, a hike or two, and time to explore the harbor and eat well. If you want to do the full Harding Icefield trail, add a helicopter tour, and fish, 3+ days is more realistic. Adventure-loving visitors could easily fill a full week.
Q: Is the wildlife cruise worth it in Seward?
A: Definitely - it's one of the best wildlife experiences in Alaska and the national park scenery alone justifies the price. The full-day tour gets you deeper into the park and to more glaciers. Book it as early as possible; the top-rated tours sell out weeks ahead in July and August.
Q: What is the Seward Highway drive like?
A: It's one of the most scenic drives in the United States - seriously. The stretch along Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage is particularly stunning, with dramatic tidal flats, mountain walls on both sides, and frequent wildlife sightings. Beluga whales and Dall sheep on the cliffs are both common enough to watch for. Budget extra time for photo stops.
Q: Is Seward good to visit in September?
A: Really good, actually - it's my favorite month there. Fewer crowds, sweater weather, golden trees against blue water and snow-capped peaks, and the first "termination dust" on the highest mountains. The main thing to check is tour availability, as some operators scale back their schedules after Labor Day.
Q: What can I do in Seward on a rainy day?
A: Rainy days in Seward are best spent at the Alaska SeaLife Center - a research aquarium with marine life exhibits that's interesting for adults and kids alike. Local galleries, coffee shops, and the harbor are all worth a wander too. And honestly, the moody weather and low clouds over Resurrection Bay on a grey day has its own kind of beauty.
Q: Do I need a car in Seward?
A: It's helpful but not necessarily required if you're staying in town and focusing on harbor-based activities. Most wildlife cruises, fishing charters, and downtown restaurants are all walkable from the main harbor area. You'll need a car to reach Exit Glacier, Lowell Point, and trailheads outside of town - or you can use the round-trip shuttle service that runs to Exit Glacier in summer.
Final Thoughts
Seward is a place that earns its reputation - not because it's famous or Instagram-saturated, but because what it offers is the real deal. Glaciers you can get right up close to, wildlife you're actually going to see, a harbor full of in-use fishing boats, and dishes prepared with fresh fish that was swimming in the nearby waters that morning.
If you're planning an Alaska trip and wondering whether to include it: yes. Definitely yes. It's one of the places I missed most when I left Alaska, and one of the first I'd go back to.
Happy adventuring!
More Alaska planning guides:
15 Best Places to Stay in Seward, Alaska (+ Unique Spots)
7 Beautiful Glaciers Near Anchorage, Alaska & How to Get There (For First Timers!)
Ultimate Guide to Exploring Hatcher Pass
5 Easy Hikes with Stunning Views near Anchorage, Alaska
Fall In Alaska: 13 Wonderful Things To Do And See
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10 Best Things To Do In Seward, Alaska (+ Hidden Gems)
